New charges made against AWU

Former 2UE radio announcer Michael Smith yesterday made further allegations about corruption at the Australian Workers Union between 1992 and 1996.

Appearing on Andrew Bolt’s Bolt Report on Network Ten, Mr Smith tied former attorney-general
Robert McClelland
to a scandal involving Bruce Wilson, the head of the AWU who was alleged to have misappropriated union funds.

Mr Smith said Mr McClelland, who worked at law firm Turner Freeman before entering Parliament, gave legal advice to another former union official, Ian Cambridge, who pursued Mr Wilson.

Mr McClelland helped Mr Cambridge prepare an affidavit outlining the misconduct against Mr Wilson who at the time was in a relationship with Prime Minister
Julia Gillard
, Mr Smith said.

No charges have ever been laid and Ms Gillard has repeatedly denied involvement in any wrongdoing.

Mr McClelland was appointed attorney-general by
Kevin Rudd
in 2007 and was demoted to emergency management minister late last year by Ms Gillard. He was dumped from the ministry after supporting Mr Rudd in the February leadership standoff earlier this year.